Tax Issues for Pennsylvania Start-Ups

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Registering to Pay Taxes

Once you have officially obtained the necessary licenses and permits for your business, you will be responsible for notifying Uncle Sam. In many cases, you can simply contact a central tax agency, which in turn will get you started with the appropriate forms and filing requirements. Once your business is listed in their database, you may receive periodic inquiries about your business or forms that you must complete to comply with state or federal laws, or both. The main taxes you will need to be aware of include:

Estimated federal and state individual income taxes,

Estimated federal and state corporate income taxes,

A sales and use tax, and

Property taxes.

Oftentimes, there may be a single form or tax application that will get you registered with several agencies regarding several different taxes. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has a single form called Form PA-100, Combined Registration, that will help you determine for which taxes your business will be liable. The form will register your business for certain services and taxes administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.

Get an Employer Identification Number

Unless you form a sole proprietorship, you must obtain an employer identification number (EIN), even if you do not have employees. The first registration you should make is to file Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, with the federal government. You will receive an employer identification number that you will need in many cases to complete other registrations. It is somewhat similar to your personal Social Security number, only it relates to your business.

You can obtain Form SS-4 from your local IRS office or your accountant. Once you have the form, you can apply for an EIN either by mail or by telephone. If you want an EIN immediately, call the Tele-TIN phone number for the service center for your state. Keep in mind, the rules for applying differ for each state. For instance, some states don' t process applications over the phone. Make sure you contact the Tele-TIN phone and address for your state. If you are not in a hurry, you can apply for your EIN through the mail. Keep in mind, you will need to complete Form SS-4 at least four to five weeks before you will need your EIN.

After you receive your EIN, you will need to register with the state agency that governs employees and employers.